Edinburg swears in Omar Ochoa as mayor; he pledges infrastructure fixes, flood mitigation and zero tolerance for corruption

Mayor Omar Ochoa was sworn in as mayor of the City of Edinburg in a public ceremony where he pledged to make infrastructure repairs, confront flood risks and strengthen government accountability.

In a speech after taking the oath, Mayor Omar Ochoa said voters had chosen "hope over fear" and that the election marked "a new era in Edinburg." He said the city recorded a strong turnout, and he called for immediate, deliberate action to address core services. "We must identify roads long overdue for repair, neighborhoods that need lighting to feel safer at night, and support our first responders," Ochoa said.

Ochoa framed flood mitigation and regional collaboration as urgent priorities. "We must confront our vulnerability to flooding," he said, adding that the city should pursue regional partnerships and seek state and federal resources to reduce storm impacts. He also described water security as "the lifeblood of our future" and called for "bold, long term water solutions for our city."

Economic development and downtown revitalization were central themes of the address. Ochoa said the city must "swing for the fences in economic growth," recruit employers that pay well, and transform downtown into "a central community hub" with parks, trails and a major family attraction to drive tourism and jobs.

On governance and transparency, Ochoa pledged reforms and stronger oversight. "I have zero tolerance for corruption in our city government, and we will shine a light in every corner of city hall," he said. He added that when things go wrong he would "be the first one to take the blame," and that when things go right he would acknowledge staff and partners.

Ochoa said the administration will pursue modernization of city operations and seek partnerships with the school district, county, state and federal levels to bring resources to Edinburg. He closed by urging residents to participate in implementing his agenda: "If you are energized about this future of the city of Edinburg, if you are ready to truly move Edinburg forward, then I invite you, roll up your sleeves with me."

The ceremony included remarks from former mayor Joe Ochoa and other dignitaries; the program ended with a reception and photos with the newly sworn-in mayor and city council.